Ariel Test, JD

Ariel Test is an experienced attorney currently serving as Chief Attorney of the Community Law Department at the Metropolitan Public Defender. In this role, Ariel works collaboratively with her colleagues, clients, and partner organizations to address legal and systemic barriers stemming from involvement with the criminal legal system, advancing holistic, client-centered advocacy.

Prior to joining Metropolitan Public Defender, Ariel spent a decade at the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, where she advanced from Staff Attorney to Director of Civil Legal Services and Special Projects, and ultimately to Managing Director. During her tenure, Ariel led and expanded interdisciplinary civil legal initiatives, managed complex programs and teams, and developed system-level strategies to improve outcomes for children, families, and communities impacted by the legal system.

Ariel began her legal career at the Orleans Public Defenders, where she built a strong foundation in public defense and trial advocacy. She earned her JD, magna cum laude, with a concentration in Public Interest Law from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.